Nonverbal communication device

ABSTRACT

This invention discloses a communication device to facilitate the communication abilities of speech-impaired individuals. In particular, the communication device is designed to offer those speech-impaired individuals with limited manual motor capacities the ability to communicate quickly and unambiguously.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/081,027,filed Feb. 21, 2002. This invention relates to a communication device tofacilitate the communication abilities of speech-impaired individuals.In particular, the communication device is designed to offer thosespeech-impaired individuals with limited manual motor capacities theability to communicate quickly and unambiguously.

2. Description of the Related Art

Communication between a speech-impaired individual and someone withoutthis handicap is generally difficult and frustrating for both parties.Communication must be quick and accurate to avoid frustration on thepart of the communicating parties. While sign language satisfy both ofthese requirements, it presents other disadvantages. Like any languageit has a learning curve and is thus more suited for speech-impairedindividuals who has had this impediment since an early age. Also, itrequires learning on the part of the non-handicapped person or aninterpreter. Lastly, speech-impaired individuals with limited manualmotor capacities, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or LouGehrig's disease) patients, may not be capable of the vigorous gesturinginvolved in sign language.

There are several devices on the market to facilitate communication by aspeech-impaired individual but they all fall short in terms of eitherquickness or accuracy. One device in the prior art has the userarranging tiles with symbols into a pictorial sentence. Such a devicepresents an inevitable tradeoff between quickness and accuracy; a smallset of tiles would not adequately portray many concepts, while a largeset of tiles would be cumbersome to manipulate. Also, speech-impairedindividuals with limited manual motor capacities may lack the dexterityto use this device.

Another device has the symbols arranged in a circle with a pointerprojecting from the center of the circle. A lever controlling aratcheting mechanism moves the pointer to the next symbol in either aclockwise or anti-clockwise direction. However, the same limitingtradeoff between quickness and accuracy is readily discernible in thissetup.

Yet another communication device has an aperture through which anobserver can follow the eye movement of a speech-impaired individual todetermine a symbol or an alphabet on a chart that the latter is viewing.This method is prone to observer error and thus unreliable. Also, thisdevice allows the speech-impaired individual to communicate with onlyone other person.

The ALS society has a laptop computer with an input device that detectsan ALS patient's eyelid movement. A patient uses this device tomanipulate a pointer over a chart displayed on the laptop's screen.Unfortunately this input device has two shortcomings that make itdifficult to use. First, its lengthy calibration process means that evena relatively simple communication, such as requesting a sip of water,must be burdened with a huge time overhead. Second, natural movements ofthe patient's head easily upsets its calibration. As a result, thedetection is rather erratic.

Accordingly, there is a need for a communication device forspeech-impaired individuals to quickly and accurately communicate theirneeds and desires. To achieve this end, such a device must be intuitive,both for the speech-impaired individual to use, and for thenon-handicapped person to comprehend. There must be no significant timeoverhead due to calibration. Also, this device must be capable of beingoperated by those handicapped individuals with limited manual motorcapacities to maximize its range of applications. These are theobjectives of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed to address the needs whichremain in the art, as discussed above. Specifically, it is directedtowards a communication device to facilitate the communication abilitiesof speech-impaired individuals, including those with limited manualmotor capabilities.

The preferred embodiment comprises a light emitting pointer, affixed onan individual and articulated by manual motor movements of saidindividual to indicate characters and symbols on charts. It can beappreciated that the individual may use the communication device toindicate other objects within his field of vision. Preferably, the lightemitting pointer is a Class II laser pointer, as Class II lasers areexempt from control measures. Ideally the laser pointer is attached toan arm of the eyeglasses frame worn by the individual, with a wirerunning to a separate power compartment to minimize the mass that has tobe articulated by the individual. The individual can thus intuitivelyaim the pointer with slight movements of his head. Alternatively thepointer may be affixed to other body parts over which the individual hasmanual motor control, via items such as hats, rings and wristbands. Thepointer is usually articulated via the user's body movements at a pointproximal to the point of attachment of the pointer, where proximal meanscloser to the center of the user's body.

Multiple charts enable the individual to communicate a full range ofconcepts. A basic chart with the alphabet and numbers allows theindividual to spell out words. Frequent requests such as a drink ofwater or assistance with toilet use may be included as symbols on thischart for convenience. Another chart with a diagram of the human bodycan be used by the individual to call attention to parts of his body incommunicating with a caregiver. Additional charts tailored to thecommunicating individual needs can be made and modified on an ad hocbasis, such as one covering the individual's dietary and medicinalneeds. The symbols are labeled to allow unambiguous communication.

The communication device as disclosed in certain embodiments allows aspeech-impaired individual to communicate quickly and accurately withmultiple persons. The device and its method of use is intuitive to useand understand. It presents no calibration issues. Furthermore, thedevice may be cheaply manufactured from readily available components.For speech-impaired individuals with limited manual motor capabilitiesthis device is particularly advantageous as it requires only small,natural body movements to articulate.

Although the challenges facing a speech-impaired individual have thusfar been used as examples, there are other analogous situations in whichcommunication via regular speech present difficulties. Examples includecommunication in noisy environments, with a person who is hard ofhearing, and between persons speaking different languages or dialects.These “speech-impaired” situations do not necessarily involve personswith speech impediments or physical handicaps. It can be appreciatedthat the communication device disclosed in this invention allows quickand unambiguous communication in these “speech-impaired” situations aswell.

Advances in electronics and computer technology enable certainembodiments to be adapted for communication between users and otherequipment, such as computers or other devices and appliances. Thiscommunication allows users to control and operate such other equipment.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, theprinciples of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show a user using an embodiment of the nonverbalcommunication device.

FIG. 2 a is a basic chart that may be used with the nonverbalcommunication device.

FIGS. 2 b and 2 c are other examples of charts that may be used with thenonverbal communication device.

FIG. 3 shows in detail the preferred embodiment of the nonverbalcommunication device, without the user.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the power compartment of the nonverbalcommunication device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The method of using a communication device constructed in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1b of the drawings. This communication device 10 comprises a laser module12, an attachment device 14 for affixing the laser module on the user,an electric wire 16 leading from the laser module 12 to a powercompartment 18 powering the laser module 12. The user aims a laser beam22 emitted from the laser module 12 via body movements at a character orsymbol on a chart 20 to communicate with a viewer.

FIG. 2 a is an example of the chart 20. It represents a basic chartthrough which the user can communicate with a viewer. It hasalphabetical characters 50 with which the user can spell the words to becommunicated to the viewer. It can be appreciated that thesealphabetical characters 50 may be arranged in a QWERTY format for userswho are familiar with the standard keyboard layout. The alphabeticalcharacters 50 include punctuation. Also included on this chart is alabel “NEW WORD” 52 that the user can point at to indicate the space orbreak between two words. Frequently used words 54, such as “YES”, “NO”,“DONE” and numerical characters 56 are also included on this chart.Frequent communications, such as requests for water or assistance withtoilet use can also be included as symbols 58 on this chart forconvenience.

FIGS. 2 b and 2 c are other examples of chart 20. These include moresymbols representing frequent communications, and a diagram of the humanbody 60 for the user to call attention to parts of his body incommunicating with a caregiver. The symbols are also labeled with labels62 in plain English to allow unambiguous communication, even withviewers who are not too familiar with the method of using thecommunication device 10. It can be appreciated that more than one ofthese charts 20 may be displayed before the user to allow him thebroadest range of communication.

FIG. 3 shows the part of the communication device 10 worn by the user. Alaser module 12 is affixed to the user by an attachment device 14.Preferably a class II laser diode is used in the laser module 12 asClass II lasers are exempt from control measures. The preferredattachment device 14 are the user's eyeglasses 100. The laser module 12is reversibly secured to an arm 102 of the user's eyeglasses 100 viaO-rings 104 or other means. A power compartment 18 powers the lasermodule 12 via an electric wire 16. Preferably the power compartment 18is not secured to the attachment device 14, in order to minimize themass that has to be articulated by the user. Also a warning label 106regarding eye damage due to prolonged direct viewing of the laser may beplaced on the power compartment 18. It can be appreciated that otherattachment devices not shown here, for example, a wristband, a ring, ora hat, would just as easily allow the practice of this invention.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of the power compartment 18. The internalschematic view of the power compartment 18 is shown, with the batterycover 200 removed. Alternatively, a hinged battery cover attached to thepower compartment 18 may be used. The battery cover 200 covers a batteryhousing 202 which houses one or more batteries 204. Preferably two AA ortwo AAA batteries connected in series are used to provide the idealvoltage of 3V. Operating the laser module 12 at 3V puts it well withinthe 1 mW limit of class II laser devices. The power compartment 18 alsocomprises a power switch 206 and an optional dimmer control 208 toregulate the brightness of the laser. Both power switches and dimmerswitches are simple electric devices well known in the prior art.Preferably the dimmer control 208 is accessible only via a small opening210 to prevent accidental adjustments of the brightness of the laser.

While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications are possible without departing from the scope of theinvention. It is, therefor, to be understood that within the scope ofthe appended claims and their equivalents, this invention may bepracticed otherwise than as specifically described above.

1. A communication device comprising: a light emitting module; and anattachment device for affixing said light emitting module on a user. 2.The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a chart.
 3. Thecommunication device of claim 1, wherein said light emitting module is alaser module.
 4. The communication device of claim 3, wherein said lasermodule comprises a laser diode.
 5. The communication device of claim 1,wherein said attachment device are eyeglasses.
 6. The communicationdevice of claim 1, wherein said attachment device is headgear.
 7. Thecommunication device of claim 1, further comprising a power compartmentcontaining at least one battery, said power compartment connected tosaid light emitting module via an electrical conductor.
 8. Thecommunication device of claim 7, wherein said power compartment isformed by a housing separate from said light emitting module
 9. Thecommunication device of claim 7, further comprising a power switch. 10.The communication device of claim 7, further comprising a dimmer switch.11. The communication device of claim 2, wherein said chart displays aplurality of symbols.
 12. The communication device of claim 11, whereinsaid symbols are alphanumeric characters.
 13. The communication deviceof claim 11, wherein said symbols are icons portraying concepts to becommunicated by said user.
 14. The communication device of claim 13,further comprising labels corresponding to said concepts to becommunicated by said user.
 15. A method of nonverbal communicationcomprising: affixing a laser module via an attachment device on a user;aiming a laser beam emitted from said laser module at a symbol displayedon a chart; and viewing said symbol illuminated by said laser beam. 16.The method of nonverbal communication as claimed in claim 15, whereinsaid aiming of said laser beam is achieved via body movement proximal toa point of attachment of said attachment device.
 17. A method ofnonverbal communication comprising: affixing a laser module via anattachment device on a user; aiming a laser beam emitted from said lasermodule at an object; and viewing said object illuminated by said laserbeam.